Lilacs and Sunsets | Jack Hunter

9; girl meets Shelly

"Oh, yeah? If he doesn't love me, how come he's coming to see me right now?" Eric pointed behind Jack.

"Eric. Hi, Shelly." Dean said and Delilah laughed, but stopped when Jack elbowed her.

"I'm leaving." She said and entered the apartment.

•••

"You've been spending a lot of time with Jack lately." Topanga told her sister as they ate at Chubbie's.

"He's my roommate. We live together. How not to?" She asked back.

"Yeah, but you go to the library together, to eat... I think he might like you." Topanga teased the older.

"Don't be stupid Topanga, that's not true." Delilah said as she ate some fries.

"Come on, the guy's a sweetheart. He has his point." Topanga kept the tease.

"I can tell you don't live with us."

"You like him." Topanga stated.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you like Jack. Oh boy you do." Topanga smirked at her.

"No I don't."

•••

"Oh my God, I might actually like Jack" Delilah yell-whispered to Topanga as they entered the apartment and saw Jack studying in the kitchen with the kitten next to his books, on the aisle.

Topanga smirked at her.

Then, the door opened behind them and an upset Shawn rushed inside the house.

"Do you know what happened?" Delilah asked Topanga.

"He's been skipping class to go to college philosophy courses, so Feeny suspended him, and now, he failed a paper he was proud of." Topanga explained and Delilah looked at Jack before walking towards Shawn's room followed by the last mentioned.

"Shawn." She knocked on the door before opening. "Hi." She walked towards him and lied next to him on the bed.

"You know Shawn, I'm proud of you." Delilah threw her arm across the boy's shoulder and hugged him.

"Why? I've been suspended, and I'm not college material." He talked quietly.

"I disagree. I think you're really smart, Shawn. You just need to learn how to use your mind." The girl explained.

"I got an F." Shawn gave her the paper he wrote and she read throught it.

"I think this is pretty good Shawn." She smiled at him.

"It's an F." He stared at her.

"It's a college F. You're not in college Shawn, you're in high school." She gave the paper to him.

"As if that made a difference." He sighed.

"Shawn, this is the best thing you've ever written. I'm sure Feeny would've given you a C minimum." Delilah told him and then sat up, making Shawn sit up too. "I want you to show this to Feeny."

"No."

"Yes. Show it to him and apologize for disrespecting his job." She said and he sighed.

"I don't want to."

"I don't care." She stared at him.

"Lilah, please." He begged.

"Go, or I'll make you." She threatened and he sighed.

"Fine." He stood up and left.

Delilah sighed and ran her hand through her hair in exasperation.

"The boy loves you." A voice startled her. "He really listens to you. What's your trick?"

Jack entered the room with a smile.

"Listening to him first." She stood up and left the room, the boy following behind.

"Shawn's difficult to deal with. I don't really know how to help him." Jack said in a sad tone and Delilah looked at him.

"He never had it easy, he just needs love and support. That's what I give him." She smiled at the boy and he smiled back.

"You're a good friend."

"You're a good brother."

"I am not so sure." He looked down.

"I am." The girl sat on the sofa and Jack plopped next to her.

After a few minutes, the cat joined them on the sofa and cuddled Jack.

"You know I said I don't like pets, but this gray hairy ball is growing on me." Jack smiked at the sleepy kitten. "Does it have a name yet?"

"No, I haven't really thought anything." Delilah frowned. "We could call it Shelly." Delilah tested remembering how Dean called Jack earlier.

"First, ha ha, so funny." He talked with sarcasm. "Second, it's a boy!"

"It's a cat!" Delilah talked in disbelief.

"How about Kelly?"

"Shelly Kelly." Lilah smiled at him. "Shelly Kelly Cat. That's it! Shelly Kelly Cat!"

"Shelly Kelly Cat, your mother is crazy."